Expansion joint



VPatented May f7,

UNITED STATES.

Y 1,711,842 PATENT oFFicEi CHARLES C. HALL, OF ALEXANDRIA, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO BANNER ROCK COB- POBATION, OF ALEXANDRIA, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF EXPANSION Jongr.

Application filed November 17, 1923. Serial No. 675,369.

This invention relates to an expansion ,joint for use between sections of paving or the! like, such as concrete, cement or other material subject to expansion and contraction.

Y The body of the joint, being Expansion joints of this character are inserted between sections of pavement or other surfaces and it is desirable to make them in strips for convenient shipping and handling.

asphalt composition, is comparatively soft and plastic and will not retain its formation and shape without a binding or reinforcement of some character.v This has heretofore been accomplished in many wa s, some of which consist in inserting a flexi le metal wire mesh or the like, or interposing and securing together layers of asphalt, paper or burlap, or a layer of asphalt composition between paper or bui-lap.

It is the object of this invention to produce an expansion joint of the ab'ove character by embedding or enclosing therein a plurality of strips ofthin wood extending vertically when the joint'is in position so as to reinforce and strengthen the material for shipping and handling purposes and giveit a substantial vertical rigidity, but permitting horizontal flexibility. To this end the joint is formed with narrow thin wooden strips embedded or enclosed therein at regular intervals so vthat when applied, the upper edge will be prevented from rolling over, but at the same time such reinforcement will not interfere with its flexibility longitudinally of thereinforcing strips, thereby permitting it to be placed around curves or in any other curved other words, when applied, it will be subtantially rigid vertically, but flexible horizontally. l

Another feature of the invention resides in the method of producing the above-described product as -will be hereinafter mo'r fully vand specically set forth.

The full nature of the invention will be understood from the accompanying drawings and the following description and claims:

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the finished product. Fig. 2 is a section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section .taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l1. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of formed of an A position desired. In

the first step. inthe production thereof. Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the second step in the production thereof.

The invention herein comprises an expan` sion joint consisting of a slab or strip 10 of asphalt mixture possessing desired characteristics as to melting point,.ductility, pene- "splinters 11, said wooden strips or splinters.l being positioned separate from and parallel to each other, as shown in Figs. 1 `and 3.

Said'strips are covered over with the mix.

ture and are so imbedded or enclosed therein as to' adhere thereto and form a reinforcement therefor. f

It will be observed from Fig. 1 that the body of the joint will have rigidity longitudinally of the strips or splinters of wood, which will be sufficient to permit it to stand between sections of pavement or similar surfaces to be joined, so that the splinters or strips 1l stand vertically, maintain the joint in vertical position and prevent itv from rolling over duringthe work. It will also be observed that by reason of the narrowness of the strips 11', the material will have an appreciable flexibility laterally of the stri s or longitudinally of the joint so as to readi y permit it to be inserted in curved or rounded positions. Thisfacilitates the shipping, handling and applying of the joints.

The product is produced by melting such asphalt mixture as labove described and pouring it upon a metal table top 12, as shown at 13, in Fig. 4. The mixture is poured to an approximate thickness 'of one andV onefourth inches and before it is chilled, a sheet of thin wood 14 approximately 28 gauge thickness'similar to wood yprepared for veneers, butterdishes, baskets, etc., is positioned on'` the surface thereof and pressed down into the melted asphalt by a suitable tool 15 so that said wood veneer or lsheet becomes ness.- The rolling elongates'the strips of asphalt 13 with suiicient extension in width to cover the ends of the wooden strips 11. Such rolling process and elongation of the asphalt strips 13 will break up the imbedded o r enclosed thin wooden sheet, tearing it apart longitudinally of, the grain and producing thereby a plurality of separate strips of wood 11, such strips being distributed practically uniformly throughout the lengthof the rolled product. This product is there after cut into any desired length and crated for shipment and use on the job.

It will be understood that the term veneer as used herein is considered as any type of thin wooden sheets, and the same may be imbedded in the asphalt by applying it to the sides thereof or4 enclosing it entireprovided with a reinforcement of individual and separated Wooden splinters. I

3. An expansion joint comprising a strip of asphalt composition or equivalent material provided with a reinforcement of a plurality of wooden strips imbedded or enclosed therein at substantially regular intervals, said strips extending in the same direction and being substantially parallel to each other.

4. An expansion joint comprising a strip of asphalt or equivalent material provided with a reinforcement formed of a thin layer of wood split and separated with the grain and so as to form in substance a plurality of Wooden reinforcing splinters.

5. An expansion joint comprising a stri of asphalt or equivalent material provide with a reinforcement comprising a thin Vlayer of wood so positioned in the joint that the joint is flexible transversely of the grain of the wood so as'to Jform in substance a plurality of wooden vreinforcing isplinters.

In Witness whereof, Ihave hereunto aiixed my signature. i

' l CHARLES C. HALL. 

